Snap fastener



June 24, 1941. R B KALE 2,246,852,

SNAPFASTENER Filed Oct. 50, 1939 1N VENTOR.

REKHLE ATTORNE Patented June 24, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE2,246,852 SNAP FASTENER Raymond BLKale, Des Moines, Iowa ApplicationOctober 30, 1939, SerialrNo. 302,014

1 Claim.

The principal object of my invention is to p-rovide a snap fastener thatwill not become accidentally unfastened when once closed to a fastenedcondition.

More specifically, the object of this invention is to provide a strongsnap fastener that when once placed in a fastened condition, will notbecome unfastened yregardless of the amount of stress, pull or strainplaced upon it.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a snap fastenerthat may be successfully used on clothes or like and will not becomedamaged during the time of washing the clothes to which the snapfastener is applied.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a snap fastenerthat shows automatic locking features and one that will not becomeaccidentally distorted in use.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a self-lockingsnap fastener that may be used on various types of garments.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a snap fastenerthat is economical in manufacture and durable in use.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combinationof the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated areattained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my lclaimand illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side sectional view of my snap fastener in use.

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the slotted base portion of the fastener.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the detachable portion of the device.

The use of various types of snap fasteners is very old. In mostinstances, however, such snap fasteners are very fragile, become easilyunhooked or unlocked and the distortion of the cloth to which they aresecured when the cloth is moved in certain directions. Obviously suchsnap fasteners are limited in their use and are usually found on Womensdresses and the like. Furthermore such snap fasteners of the ball andsocket type quickly wear out after which they either cannot be locked orwill not stay in looked condition after they have been placed in suchfastened arrangement. I have overcome such objections by providing avery strong, neat and flat snap fastener that stays in locked conditionafter it is once placed in the same and will stand exceptionally hardand rough usage,

, cured to the cloth I3 at times.

Referring to the drawing, I have used the numeral I0 to Vdesignate theelongated cup shaped base retaining'member. This base memberA I 0 hasflanges Il extending outwardly on each of its end rim portions, as shownin Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. 'I'hese anges Il are provided with small threadholes I2. In actual practice this Abase member l0 is placed in aninverted position on the -cloth or like I3 and is secured to such clothor like by sewing through the holes I3 or otherwise suitably -securingthe ange portions I| to the cloth. The numeral I'4 designates a circularopening in the bottom of the member III. Radially extending slots I5 arecut in the bottom of the member Ill and communicate with the circularhole opening I4 as shown in Fig. 2. The resulting prong portions IBbetween the radially extending slots I5 are bent downwardly and inwardlyand then downwardly and outwardly, as shown in Fig. 1. As the member I0is preferably made of suitable spring metal, the diameter of thecircular opening I4 will be capable of yieldable increase. Obviously byforcing the prongs I6 loutwardly the diameter of the opening I4 will beincreased. The numeral I1 designates an elongated slot cut in the bottomof the member I0 and communicating with the opening I4 as shown in Fig.2. The extreme .diameter of the opening I4 is substantially greater thanthe width of the slot IFI. The numeral I8 designates the movable portionof my snap fastener and consists of a flat piece of metal or like havingholes I9 near one of its ends as shown in Fig. 3. This member I8 isdesigned to be secured to the other piece of cloth 20, which is therebyse- Any suitable means may be used to secure one end of the member I' tothe cloth 20, such as by passing rivets or thread through the holes I9and the cloth 20, as shown in Fig. 1. The numeral 2| designates acircular neck portion on the bottom side of the member I8. This neckportion 2| has a diameter slightly less than the Width of the slot II.The numeral 22 designates an enlarged ball head on the free end of theneck 2|, as shown in Fig. 1. The diameter of this ball head 22 issubstantially greater than the diameter of the neck 2| or the width ofthe slot I1. The diameter of the ball head 22 is less than the extremeexpandedr diameter of the opening I4, but is greater in diameter thanthe minimum contracted diameter of the hole opening To use my device, itis merely necessary to place the ball head 22 into the opening I4 andplace downwardly in order to force the ball head through the yieldableopening I4 and to a portion inside the inverted -cup portion I4. As soonas the ball head 22 is clear of the spring nger projections I6, thespring finger projections will contract, thereby making the opening I4of a less diameter than the diameter of the ball head. The opening I4 islocked near one end of the member I0 and the ball head 22 is next movedto the other yend of the member I0 with the neck portion 2|' extendingthrough the slot I 1. Obviously in placing the member I0 on the cloth orlike I3, the end of the member I0 having the opening I4 is placedfurthest away from the cloth 20 to be held, as shown in Fig. .1. `In

most instances the cloth I3 and the cloth. 20 will have a tendency tomove away from each other thereby holding the head 22 under`and to theright of the slot I'l as shown in Fig.. 1.

nObviously when the snap fastener is in such' condition with the`enlarged head 2I below the slot I1, the :snap fastener cannot possiblybecome accidental-ly unfastened. As Vthe head 22 andneck 2|- arecircular, the member I8 may rotate relative to the member IIl, therebymaking for auniversal snap fastener and preventing any distortion othecloth .or like Vbeing held regardless of the relative angle to which onepiece of cloth fisl being pulled, relative to the other piece .of clothto which it is secured. The dimensions of the member I8 are such thatwhen the .snap fastener :is in closed condition, this member willsubstantially cover the top of the member I0, thereby hiding the openingI4 and slot I1. To detach the movable portion of my snap fastener fromthe xed position, it is merely necessary to slide the member I8 to theleft, in order to bring the enlarged head member 22 directly under theyieldable opening I4, after which the member I8 is moved directly awayfrom the member I'U, pulling the enlarged head 22 through theVspringnger projections I6.

Some changes may bemade in the construction and arrangement of myimproved snap fastener without departing from the real spirit andpurpose of my invention, and it is my inten- ",tion to cover by my claimany modified forms of, structure or use of mechanical equivalents whichmay be 'reasonably included within their scope. n

I claim:

In a device of the class described, an elongatedv inverted cup memberhaving a circular opening in :its Vbottom and an elongated straight slotopening -in its bottom communicating with the 4circular opening, andspring finger elements integrally formed on said inverted 'cup memberforming the circumference of said ycircular `opening and extending firstinwardly and downwardly and then downwardly and outwardly; said circularopening designed to receive an enlarged circular headed element. I Y

RAYMOND B. HALE.

